County Buggy torsion bars · Aussieveedubbers

VWCOOL · 21 Mar 2005, 8:15 am

I took my CB rear torsion bars out. One is rusty and the surface is pitted so I brushed it back to metal and repainted it. But I am concerned that it might break in the future as teh pitting will act as a 'tear' in the surface of the bar. They are longer than 60s Beetle - IRS length? - but I would like to know if they are Kombi, T3 or what so I can be ready if one breaks. Can anyone help?

56astro · 21 Mar 2005, 9:34 am

I've got the 2 that came out of my swing axle pan. They are thicker than the later model ones apparently. I've marked them L and R so they go back in on the correct side.

Do you want them?

68AutoBug · 21 Mar 2005, 12:27 pm

I do believe they were made from a mixture of 1967 beetle & kombi parts...
from what I have read recently....

I don't believe the 'pits' will effect the torsion bars....

They are very strong and its unbelievable that they can twist like they do.... for over 35 years....

As You are no doubt aware, its special steel...

Lee

VWCOOL · 21 Mar 2005, 4:03 pm

Thanks fellers.. the CB ones are longer than std 60s swing-axle (I have a lot of swing-axle torsion bars lying around) but I'm not sure if they are the same as IRS. I am concerned about surface imperfections as they concentrate stress in the most highly-critical section of the tbar (the surface) and can be the 'propogator of a catastrophic failure', to use engineering-ese... and I don't want to be stuck on Cape York with a busted arse!

[Edited on 21/3/2005 by VWCOOL]

68AutoBug · 21 Mar 2005, 4:17 pm

The 68-69-70 model swing axle 1500 beetles had longer rear axles...

I'm not sure on the length of the torsion Bars....?

Couldn't find anything in the beetle changes book I have..

You could aways carry a couple of spare torsion bars...🙂🙂

Army tanks carried spare tracks etc.... 🙂🙂

Best of Luck....

Lee

Desert Bug · 21 Mar 2005, 4:36 pm

G'day,
They are the same as '56-'59 Beetle and Type 3. There are no Kombi bits involved in the suspension.
Cheers, Ian.

VWCOOL · 21 Mar 2005, 5:26 pm

Thanks for that - I have spare T3 ones somewhere under the house...!

Special Air Service · 21 Mar 2005, 8:15 pm

If you "linish" the pits out it should reduce the chances of breakage as there won't be any sharp edges etc to "propogate a catastrophic failure" just make sure the sanding/linishing marks run lengthwise on the torsion bars and not across the bars.